Growing Vibrant Bright Lights Swiss Chard Plants in Your Garden

Bright Lights Swiss chard is a gorgeous and tasty variety of chard that brings vibrant color to any vegetable garden. With its brightly colored stems in hues of red, pink, orange, yellow, and white, and its dark green, ruffled leaves, this chard is as beautiful as it is nutritious. In this article, I’ll share tips on how to successfully grow Bright Lights Swiss chard plants from seed to harvest.

Bright Lights Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) is an All America Selections winner that was introduced by Johnny’s Selected Seeds in 1998. This chard stands out for its stunning, multicolored stems and savoyed, green leaves that add beauty and nutrition to the garden.

The tender leaves and crunchy stalks have a mild, slightly earthy taste that works well both raw in salads and cooked in various dishes. In addition to being high in vitamins A, K, and C, Bright Lights chard contains antioxidants like beta-carotene and syringic acid.

This annual vegetable thrives in cool weather and can withstand light frosts It can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9 as either a spring or fall crop With proper care, you can be harvesting fresh chard within just 4-5 weeks from sowing seeds.

When and How to Plant Bright Lights Swiss Chard

Bright Lights Swiss chard grows best as a cool weather crop in the spring and fall. Plants started indoors can be moved outside about 2-3 weeks before your last expected spring frost date. Seeds can also be directly sown in the garden 1-2 weeks before the last frost.

For a fall harvest, sow seeds 8-10 weeks before your first expected fall frost. Chard grows best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Select a site with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Work compost into the soil to optimize nutrition and moisture retention.

Sow chard seeds 1⁄2 inch deep, spacing seeds 6-12 inches apart in rows set 12-18 inches apart. Thin seedlings when they are 2-3 inches tall, leaving them 6-12 inches apart. Another option is to purchase transplants, spacing them 12-18 inches apart.

Water transplants after planting and provide 1 inch of water weekly if rain is lacking. Apply a balanced organic fertilizer when planting and again midseason.

How to Care for Bright Lights Swiss Chard

Caring for Swiss chard plants primarily involves providing consistent water, dealing with pests, and harvesting the leaves for continual production. Here are some tips:

• Watering: Chard needs about 1 inch of water weekly. Water deeply, moistening the top 6 inches of soil.

• Weeding: Stay on top of weeds which compete for water and nutrients. Apply mulch after plants are established to help suppress weeds.

• Pests: Watch for slugs, snails, and leaf miners. Row covers can prevent damage. Hand pick pests and use organic solutions if needed.

• Harvesting: Pick outer leaves when they reach 6-8 inches long. Use a sharp knife to cut leaves off just above the crown. This stimulates new growth.

• Fertilizing: Side dress with organic nitrogen fertilizer midseason to support plant growth if needed.

• Crop rotation: Rotate chard location in the garden each year to prevent disease buildup in the soil.

With proper site selection, sowing, plant spacing, watering, and pest management your Bright Lights chard should thrive!

How to Harvest and Enjoy Bright Lights Swiss Chard

One of the joys of growing Bright Lights Swiss chard is being able to harvest fresh greens for salads and cooking. Here’s how to harvest and make the most of your homegrown chard:

• Harvest leaves when they are about 6 inches long by cutting the outermost leaves near the base of the plant. This stimulates new growth.

• For baby greens, you can harvest the entire plant when it is 4-6 inches tall. Cut the plant just above soil level.

• Wash leaves gently and pat dry before use. Store unwashed leaves in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.

• Raw chard leaves add color and crunch to salads. The stems can be chopped and added to salads as well.

• Saute, steam, or stir fry leaves as you would spinach. The stems take longer to cook than the leaves.

• Add chard leaves and stems to pasta dishes, frittatas, stir fries, soups, and more!

With its colorful stems and tender green leaves, Bright Lights chard brings beauty and nutrition from the garden to the table. Follow proper planting, care, and harvesting techniques and soon you’ll be enjoying fresh chard from your own backyard. Let this colorful variety brighten up your garden and meals!

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Bright Lights Swiss Chard

If you’re new to growing Bright Lights Swiss chard, you probably have some questions. Here are answers to some of the most common queries about successfully raising this colorful vegetable.

How much space do Bright Lights chard plants need?

Allow 12-18 inches between each plant. The plants can grow up to 20 inches tall and 18 inches wide.

Should I start Bright Lights chard from seed or buy transplants?

You can start from seed directly in the garden 2-3 weeks before your last spring frost date. For a head start, sow seeds indoors 4-6 weeks earlier and transplant outside 2-3 weeks before the last frost. Buying transplants is easiest but costs more.

What are the best companion plants for Bright Lights chard?

Good companions include beans, onions, garlic, lettuce, kale, and cucumbers. Avoid planting near pole beans or grapes.

How do I prevent pests on my Bright Lights chard?

Row covers and crop rotation help prevent pests. Hand pick visible insects. Spray leaves with water to knock off aphids. Apply neem oil for slugs.

Why are my chard leaves yellowing or browning?

This can be due to lack of nutrients, inconsistent watering, too much sun, damping off disease, or leaf miners. Address the underlying cause.

Can I grow Bright Lights chard in a container?

Yes! Plant in a 12-16 inch diameter container with drainage holes. Use a quality potting mix and provide consistent water and fertilizer.

How do I save Bright Lights chard seeds for next year?

Allow one or two plants to bolt and set seed in year two. When the seed pods dry and open, collect seeds to store in an airtight container.

Have more questions? Reach out in the comments below!

The Joys and Benefits of Growing Bright Lights Swiss Chard

Bright Lights Swiss chard is one of my favorite plants to grow in the garden. Not only is it low maintenance, but it also offers an abundance of benefits:

• This variety is high yielding, allowing you to harvest tons of tasty greens from just a few plants. Expect around 15-20 leaves per plant.

• The stems add stunning color and beauty to both flower and vegetable gardens. They come in a rainbow of red, pink, orange, yellow, and white.

• Both the leaves and crunchy stems are edible and packed with vitamins A, K, C, magnesium, potassium, and more.

• The tender texture and mild, earthy flavor make chard delicious raw or cooked. Kids are more likely to eat these mild greens!

• A frost tolerant and hardy annual, Bright Lights thrives through cool weather in spring, fall, and even winter in some climates.

• Chard is easy to grow from seed and matures quickly, ready for harvest in just 4-6 weeks.

• Mature plants have few pest or disease problems compared to other crops.

• You can continually harvest outer leaves over a long season for months of fresh greens.